Plate imaging
In reproduction technology , printing plate imaging means that the printing image areas from the database ( CtP ) or from the film ( CtF ) are transferred to the printing form by means of thermal action on a printing plate . The most modern technology is the imaging directly in the printing machine ( computer to plate on press ). Depending on the type of plate, imaging can be done using UV radiation or laser radiation. Halftone images must be rasterized prior to imaging.
The term comes from the fact that the illustration was originally made using photographic processes, unlike lead type . Since the photosetting , the text elements have also been included in the illustration.